Beverly Hills Municipal Code Art. 4 Bingo

No person shall engage in, conduct, or carry on bingo without a permit issued under the provisions of chapter 1, article 1 of this title. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

BINGO: A game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols on a card which conform to numbers or symbols selected at random.

NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION: A tax exempted organization, as defined in section 23701 of the state Revenue and Taxation Code and nonprofit senior citizens organizations; provided, however, such organization shall also satisfy all of the following requirements:

A. Have an office or other place of business in the city;

B. Have members who reside in the city; and

C. Perform or offer charitable services which directly benefits, or which offer potential direct benefit to, residents of the city. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

To qualify for issuance of a permit for bingo the applicant shall meet the following requirements:

A. Be a nonprofit charitable organization or nonprofit senior citizen's organization meeting the requirements defined in section 4-3-402 of this article.

B. Such organization must own or lease the premises upon which the bingo is conducted.

C. Such organization must use such premises for an office or performance of purposes for which the organization was founded; provided further, such premises are not required to be used exclusively by such organization. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

Issuance or denial of a permit shall be based on the criteria of section 4-1-103 of this title, and with the additional criteria that the permit shall be denied:

A. Where the applicant has previously engaged in any fraudulent transaction or enterprise.

B. Where the kind or method of the bingo game, or the time when it will take place, or its duration are such that the game will not be in the interest of, and is inimical to, the safety, convenience, or welfare of the inhabitants of the city. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

The following restrictions and prohibitions apply to bingo:

A. Bingo shall be prohibited between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. the next succeeding day.

B. The total value of prizes awarded during the conduct of any bingo game shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in cash or kind, or both, for each separate game which is held.

C. All profits derived from a bingo game shall be kept in a special fund or account and shall not be commingled with any other fund or account.

D. Permittee's expenses for rental of property, overhead, and administrative expenses shall not exceed the lesser of: five hundred dollars ($500.00) per month; or the portion of the proceeds derived from the bingo, not exceeding ten percent (10%) after deduction for prizes.

E. No person except the organization authorized to conduct the bingo shall hold a financial interest in the conduct of such bingo.

F. No person other than the permittee shall operate such game or participate in the promotion, supervision, or any other phase of such game. The bingo shall be operated and staffed exclusively by members of permittee.

G. No person shall receive a profit, wage, or salary from a bingo.

H. Permittee shall not in any way represent that the bingo permit is an endorsement by the city.

I. All bingo shall be open to the public, and not restricted to the members of permittee.

J. No person shall be allowed to participate in a bingo game unless the person is physically present at the time and place in which the bingo game is being conducted.

K. No minor shall be allowed to participate in a bingo. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

On the first business day following any bingo, the permittee shall file a report with the police department stating the following information:

A. Amount of all monies derived from the bingo.

B. Itemization of all costs incurred from the bingo.

C. Net profits from the game, if any.

D. Itemization of all awards provided. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)

Permits issued for bingo shall expire ninety (90) days after issuance. Renewal applications shall be filed a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to expiration of the permit. (1962 Code § 4-7.201 et seq.)